Doctors on VVIP duty, patients suffer

Patients visiting the out patient department (OPD) of the civil hospital were a harried lot as many doctors were deputed on special duty during the President's visit to the city on Tuesday.

Despite paying fee, a number of patients were seen returning without consulting the doctor concerned. The patients were seen enquiring about doctors, to which the staff members were making excuses.

Patients claimed that the hospital authorities had not issued any notice regarding doctors on duty due to which they had to return as most of the doctors were not available in the OPD.

Gurdeep Kaur, a patient, said she was returning empty-handed, as she could not consult the doctor concerned because he was not available. She said she had got issued a slip from the counter but was returning without taking her medicine.

She further added that Wednesday being a holiday she would now come on Thursday.

Rajesh Kumar, who had taken his son to the hospital around 11:30 am, said the doctor was not available in his room. He said an employee of the hospital told him that the doctor concerned was deputed for the President's visit.

He said he could not afford the fee to consult a private doctor so he visited the civil hospital. The health department should pay attention towards the common man who were returning empty-handed from the hospital.

Assistant civil surgeon Dr KS Saini said some of the doctors of the civil hospital and civil surgeon office were deputed for the President's visit. He also said it was a half day on Tuesday.